A proposal for the St. Landry Parish School Board to change its health insurance program was defeated 12-1 to the obvious relief of a room packed with employees Thursday.
Employees are now insured through the Office of Group Benefits, a state entity. Blue Cross, Blue Shield is the provider of health and pharmacy benefits.
A study by Arthur Gallagher proposed a self-funded plan with UnitedHealthcare and based on a three-year claims-premium history cited a $1 million savings over the state plan.
Members of the audience were audibly not sold by the presentation by Arthur Gallagher representatives.
About 3,000 employees and retirees are covered by the school district’s health insurance plan that’s been through the state for the past 18 years.
Milton Ambres, an Opelousas Board member, said about the self-insurance, “I think we tried once before and it ended up not working.”
The presentation stated premiums would be reduced 5 percent in the self-insurance plan.
Ambres noted the $1 million savings claim and asked, “If we are paying less, how would we get that surplus?”
Several Board members followed with critiques of the proposal.
Raymond Cassimere, an Oeplousas Board member, said, “I recall attending meetings when were in financial trouble when it cost $3.5 million to go back to the state in order to get ourselves out of a financial bind.”
The school district’s employees needed a plan with a high degree of stability, he said. “That’s why went back to the state.”
Opelousas Board member Hazel Sias questioned how long the premiums would remain lower than the current rates.
“There’s a possibility the premiums could skyrocket,” she said.
Albert Hayes Jr., a Eunice Board member, said, “I would like to say that it seems already the consensus of the Board that we not proceed with a change of insurance.”
He added, “This vote, should it occur, will give you peace of mind.”
Perhaps the sharpest Board member reaction came from Huey Wyble, of Arnaudville, who said, “I almost wore my clown outfit. I’m being serious ... I knew it was going to a circus here.”
Wyble, who said he has 40 years experience in the insurance business, said, “The people in here raise your hands. Who wants to keep what you have?”
Most of the people in the room raised their arms.
“About 90 percent,” Wyble said.
“Whatever we have to do to put this to rest, that’s what I’m looking for,” he said.
The Board first voted unanimously to put the question on an employee vote on the agenda.
In a vote on whether to hold an employee vote, only Port Barre Board member Donnie Perron’s voted “Yes.”
Sias said when Board members first met with the group it was information — “not to come as far as it has gotten.”
Retiree Johnny Ardoin, of Port Barre, said, “It almost happened.”
If a vote had been approved, it would have taken a majority of the employees and retirees to make the change.
Candace Gerace, Board president,said it is necessary for Superintendent Patrick Jenkins and Tressa Miller, finance director, to search for ways to save money.
Hayes noted the importance of balancing the district’s budget, but added, “It not worth that in anxiety and the uncertainty that many of you would have experience with that change.”
